Sportswagers
Tampa Bay @ MINNESOTA
Tampa Bay -1 +100 over MINNESOTA
Posted at 11:45 AM EST.
Kyle Gibson has become an elite command + groundball pitcher. His 55% groundball rate and just 29 walks in 101 innings confirm that. However, Gibson’s marginal 60% first pitch strike % suggests that his pinpoint control won't last. Gibson has just 53 K’s in those 101 innings, which is a huge wart in any starting pitcher’s profile. In two of his last four starts, Gibson failed to record an out past the second inning and was yanked both times after allowing 13 runs in a combined four innings. He’s had some solid outings but he’s also has a career WHIP of 1.42, a career BAA of .278 and a career ERA of 4.80.
This is potentially a season defining stretch for the Rays. They made a bit of a move the past month and leapfrogged over the Red Sox out of last place in the AL East. Tampa now sits just 4½ games back of the Yanks and just 5½ back of the Blue Jays but they have a great opportunity to make up ground against the first place Orioles. Baltimore is in Oakland this weekend and they’ll travel to Anaheim and Seattle following this series. That’s a 10-game road stretch for the O’s against three teams that are playing very well. If the Rays are to make any noise whatsoever, it has to start here and surely they’re aware. Although an oblique injury has abbreviated his season so far, Alex Cobb has put to rest any lingering uncertainty that his performance would be altered by 2013's terrifying concussion. Quite simply, he's emerged as one of more dominant and consistent starters in the league. Over his last six starts, Cobb has 34 K’s in 35 innings to go along with a sick 64% groundball rate. Over that same stretch is lien drive rate was 10%. Cobb’s 64% groundball rate and 10% line-drive rate over the last six starts are both the highest marks of any starter in the game. Alex Cobb did not make the All-Star team but he is without question the best pitcher to have missed it because he’s missed time this year he is far under the radar. Put him on your radar now.
Our Pick
Tampa Bay -1 +100 (Risking 2 units - To Win: 2.00)
Chicago @ ARIZONA
Chicago +118 over ARIZONA
Posted at 11:45 AM EST.
Eight MLB teams in eleven years for Edwin Jackson. Why he's often in demand: High IP totals; solid health grade; solid hr/9. Why he's often deemed expendable: ERA swings; .467 lifetime win%; game-to-game volatility. That said, Jackson was one of the NL's most skilled starters in May with 10.7 K’s per nine with a 72% first pitch strike rate. His 4.30 ERA was the product of an unlucky 36% hit rate more than anything else. The few extra days rest figures to serve him well but this wager has little to do with backing Jackson. This one is all about fading Trevor Cahill.
Cahill began the season in the Diamondbacks rotation but was moved to the pen after losses in his first four starts. He was sent to the minors in mid-June to be stretched out and he'll be recalled to start against the Cubs here. He has not pitched well in Chase Field with a 0-4 record and a 7.71 ERA. Cahill's last start at AAA Reno was not a good one, as he allowed 4 earned runs, 5 hits, and 5 walks in 4 innings. In fact, Cahill labored through his six starts at AAA-Reno and was beset with the same lack of command that plagued him in Phoenix. All told, Cahill has logged 72 innings and has allowed 115 base-runners, 45 of them via walks. Some good news? Last year he led the NL with 17 wild pitches; this year he has zero. That tidbit is not nearly incentive enough to recommend him as the chalk against anyone.
Our Pick
Chicago +118 (Risking 2 units - To Win: 2.36)
Tampa Bay @ MINNESOTA
Tampa Bay -1 +100 over MINNESOTA
Posted at 11:45 AM EST.
Kyle Gibson has become an elite command + groundball pitcher. His 55% groundball rate and just 29 walks in 101 innings confirm that. However, Gibson’s marginal 60% first pitch strike % suggests that his pinpoint control won't last. Gibson has just 53 K’s in those 101 innings, which is a huge wart in any starting pitcher’s profile. In two of his last four starts, Gibson failed to record an out past the second inning and was yanked both times after allowing 13 runs in a combined four innings. He’s had some solid outings but he’s also has a career WHIP of 1.42, a career BAA of .278 and a career ERA of 4.80.
This is potentially a season defining stretch for the Rays. They made a bit of a move the past month and leapfrogged over the Red Sox out of last place in the AL East. Tampa now sits just 4½ games back of the Yanks and just 5½ back of the Blue Jays but they have a great opportunity to make up ground against the first place Orioles. Baltimore is in Oakland this weekend and they’ll travel to Anaheim and Seattle following this series. That’s a 10-game road stretch for the O’s against three teams that are playing very well. If the Rays are to make any noise whatsoever, it has to start here and surely they’re aware. Although an oblique injury has abbreviated his season so far, Alex Cobb has put to rest any lingering uncertainty that his performance would be altered by 2013's terrifying concussion. Quite simply, he's emerged as one of more dominant and consistent starters in the league. Over his last six starts, Cobb has 34 K’s in 35 innings to go along with a sick 64% groundball rate. Over that same stretch is lien drive rate was 10%. Cobb’s 64% groundball rate and 10% line-drive rate over the last six starts are both the highest marks of any starter in the game. Alex Cobb did not make the All-Star team but he is without question the best pitcher to have missed it because he’s missed time this year he is far under the radar. Put him on your radar now.
Our Pick
Tampa Bay -1 +100 (Risking 2 units - To Win: 2.00)
Chicago @ ARIZONA
Chicago +118 over ARIZONA
Posted at 11:45 AM EST.
Eight MLB teams in eleven years for Edwin Jackson. Why he's often in demand: High IP totals; solid health grade; solid hr/9. Why he's often deemed expendable: ERA swings; .467 lifetime win%; game-to-game volatility. That said, Jackson was one of the NL's most skilled starters in May with 10.7 K’s per nine with a 72% first pitch strike rate. His 4.30 ERA was the product of an unlucky 36% hit rate more than anything else. The few extra days rest figures to serve him well but this wager has little to do with backing Jackson. This one is all about fading Trevor Cahill.
Cahill began the season in the Diamondbacks rotation but was moved to the pen after losses in his first four starts. He was sent to the minors in mid-June to be stretched out and he'll be recalled to start against the Cubs here. He has not pitched well in Chase Field with a 0-4 record and a 7.71 ERA. Cahill's last start at AAA Reno was not a good one, as he allowed 4 earned runs, 5 hits, and 5 walks in 4 innings. In fact, Cahill labored through his six starts at AAA-Reno and was beset with the same lack of command that plagued him in Phoenix. All told, Cahill has logged 72 innings and has allowed 115 base-runners, 45 of them via walks. Some good news? Last year he led the NL with 17 wild pitches; this year he has zero. That tidbit is not nearly incentive enough to recommend him as the chalk against anyone.
Our Pick
Chicago +118 (Risking 2 units - To Win: 2.36)
